Globally, the mining sector is de-growing by 20-25 per cent, but the fact that India´s mining sector is likely to grow by a similar percentage, is the predominant sentiment amongst the country´s equipment and mine owner community. Government reforms in the mining sector, its initiatives to privatise mining and drive public sector undertakings like Coal India to put their act together, are some of the key drivers of growth.

The Ministry of Coal has identified seven big coal blocks for allotment to power generation companies of six states. The blocks on offer include Deocha Pachami with 2,102 million tonne (mt) of coal reserves in West Bengal, Ghograpalli with 1,163 mt, Jaduanathpur with 525 mt in Odisha, Pokharia Paharpur with 584 mt and North Kathara with 305 mt in Jharkhand.

Vijay Sharma, Executive Director, Terex Equipment India: The huge quantum of the infrastructure to be developed over a period of time, tells no other story. Even for the metros to sustain for another 25 years, we need better infrastructure, better connectivity.

Mumbai-based May Flower has agreed to invest along with Delbi to jointly develop a coal mine in Ethiopia over a three-year period. May Flower will import mining machinery, mining experts as well as the required finance for exploration and mining works.

On the missing files related to coal reserves’ allocation, the Union Coal Ministry on September 16 gave its report to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The CBI is likely to register more First Information Reports (FIRs) in the coal scam investigation. The Ministry has reportedly stated in the report that a few files were untraceable.